Duval County residents, commercial property owners and small businesses owners are being choked by the cords of excessive taxation and regulation to support excessive government spending and the mayor’s office is proposing an additional property tax increase. Currently tens of thousands of Duval County residents have had their hours at work reduced or are unemployed as a result of the recession, and many small business and property owners are struggling to keep their businesses afloat. Commercial property tax increases and storm water fees are making it nearly impossible for small shops to operate in retail centers and commercial property vacancies are on the rise. A new property tax increase is unbearable for those barely or unable to make ends meet. Rather than a property tax increase, government should be looking for ways to decrease this burden on its citizens.
The current issue of excessive taxation, debt and spending at the federal, state and local level is a multi -pronged problem created by the government. The first problem is the amount government is currently spending with an extending question of what they are spending our money on. The second problem is the manner in which taxes and fees are collected and municipal debt is incurred. Mayor Peyton and others are proposing an additional property tax increase while assuring us they have cut every possible expenditure out of their budget.
While examining their budgets it is a good time for our leaders to ask the fundamental question “What is the necessary function of local government?” In a free society, government is created to provide for the security and protection of the property and rights of its citizens, through armed forces, state National Guard or a police force and fire department; to provide infrastructure for commerce and free trade; to provide a court system to settle disputes and to prosecute criminals; and, to provide for a currency to allow for free trade.
The converse to this question is “What business is the government in that should be handled by the free market?” In Florida and in Duval County, these businesses include among other things: schools, medicine, welfare, entertainment, agriculture, insurance, land development, ports, libaries and charities. In Florida, there are numerous primary, secondary and higher education schools that educate more effectively and efficiently than their current government school competitors. Simply compare the cost of education per student. The government should get out of the education business. Public education should be there to provide the minimum required education program. Government schools should be a program of last resort similar to the public defender’s office. The government’s goal should be to get our residents out of the government school system and to promote the expansion and growth of private and parochial schools; not to increase the size and burden of the government school system.
As compared to government businesses, there are numerous private hospitals that operate more efficiently and effectively. The government should get out of the medical business. There are numerous non-profits and charities that operate more effectively and distribute the money voluntarily given to them. The government should get out of the charity, welfare, recreation, entertainment, land development and library business. The free market has, and always will, do a better job at regulating itself and providing goods and services more efficiently and economically. But the real question is not who can do the job better − it is a matter of what is right and wrong. When the government takes money from a citizen to support individuals or programs that the citizen, whose money they are involuntarily spending, does not agree with, it is simply wrong.
At the state and local level, governments should work to have essential government services be paid for directly by those who use these services. These services should be paid for in the form of local sales taxes and user fees. For example, 100% of the cost of the stadium should be shouldered by the users of the stadium. If this can not be done, the stadium or facility should be sold or leased to someone who can operate and manage it profitably.
However, cutting the budgets of programs that are necessary functions of government such as fire, police, courts and roads are not necessarily the answer. The budgets of these necessary agencies and departments should be increased if necessary while those agencies providing services that should be handled by the marketplace should be phased out and eliminated.
Utilizing Property taxes to pay for these services is fundamentally abhorrent. In a free society no individual should ever lose their property for failure to act or pay a tax. All taxes should be avoidable and connected to specific use or consumption. If someone gets power they pay a tax, if the purchase fuel they pay a tax, if they purchase water they pay a tax. When they purchased their property they paid a tax, once they purchased the materials to build their home they paid a tax. Once an individual purchases a good or service and pays the associated fee or tax it becomes their property. The state should have no further claim against their property.
Our government was not created to do things for people, corporations or for states; to take from some to give to others. Unfortunately the un-American expanded federal, state and local social, welfare and entitlement system represents the gradual creep of a socialist redistribution of wealth mentality that is slowly undermining the fabric of the American dream. Every individual has the right to the fruits of their own labor and the responsibility to support themselves and their families. Under the US Constitution, the federal government cannot legitimately redistribute the wealth and assume power over people’s lives and dominate mans existence with oppressive taxation, regulations and government controls. Our leaders need to send those calling back to the charities and use the bully pulpit to rally the business leaders, churches and non-profits to the cause of individual and community responsibility to solve these problems.
If you agree with this position and would like to learn more about the message of liberty, visit the Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida website at http://www.rlcfl.org/ and find your local chapter today.
Will Pitts, Chairman
Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida
July 17, 2009
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Sat, Mar 6, 2010
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